A Practical Guide to Artist Pencils: Top Recommendations

Navigating the world of artist pencils can feel overwhelming. With so many types available—from classic colouring pencils to watercolour and pastel varieties—choosing the right set for your project is crucial. Whether you are an art student, a seasoned professional or a hobbyist looking for quality art supplies for adults, the sheer volume of choice can be a challenge.

This guide is designed to cut through the clutter. As a Joybuy Product Recommendation Officer, my role is to provide clear, practical information to help you find the tools that best suit your creative style and needs. We will explore the key factors to consider and highlight a few standout options available today.

Choosing Your Ideal Drawing Pencils Set: A Quick Guide

Before diving into specific products, let's cover a few key considerations that will help you make an informed decision. Understanding these basics will ensure you select a set that works for you.

1. Pencil Core: Wax, Oil, Watercolour or Pastel?

The core, or 'lead', of a coloured pencil determines its primary characteristics.

• Wax-Based: These are common and generally more affordable. They are known for easy layering and blending, though they can be prone to 'wax bloom'—a light, waxy film that can appear over time.
• Oil-Based: Often found in professional colouring pencils, oil-based cores are typically harder, hold a finer point for longer, and are less prone to wax bloom. They offer smooth application and are excellent for detailed work.
• Water-Soluble (Watercolour): A watercolour pencils set offers great versatility. You can use them dry, like a standard pencil, or add water with a brush to activate the pigment, creating washes and effects similar to watercolour paint.
• Pastel:Chalk pastel pencils encase a soft, chalky pastel stick in a wooden shaft. This gives you the rich, blendable texture of soft pastels with the control and precision of a pencil, making them ideal for detailed pastel work without the mess.

2. Pigment Quality and Lightfastness

Pigment is the substance that gives a pencil its colour. Higher-quality pencils contain a greater concentration of fine art pigments, resulting in richer, more vibrant colours. Lightfastness refers to how well a pigment resists fading when exposed to light. For artists wishing to display or sell their work, choosing pencils with good lightfastness ratings is important for the longevity of the piece.

3. Hardness and Blendability

The hardness of the pencil's core affects both the intensity of the colour and its suitability for different techniques. Softer cores lay down rich colour quickly and are excellent blendable pencils, perfect for creating smooth gradients. Harder cores are better for sharp lines, intricate details, and underdrawings, as they hold a point well and are less likely to smudge.

Top Artist Pencil Recommendations

Based on their features, materials and suitability for different artistic applications, here are a few recommendations from our catalogue.

STABILO CarbOthello Chalk-Pastel Pencil Set (Tin of 12)

Why It Stands Out The STABILO CarbOthello pencils successfully merge the rich, expressive qualities of chalk pastels with the control of a pencil. They deliver a characteristic dry and dusty stroke with high pigmentation and colour brilliance. The core is partially water-soluble, meaning you can blend them dry with your fingers or a tortillon, or use a wet brush to create interesting artistic effects. The protective wooden shaft helps prevent breakage of the delicate pastel core.

Pros

• Combines the texture of chalk with the precision of a pencil.
• Highly pigmented for vibrant colour laydown.
• Can be blended dry or used with water for mixed-media techniques.
• Can be sharpened to a fine point for detailed work.

Who is it for? Artists and hobbyists who enjoy working with pastels but desire more control for fine details, as well as mixed-media artists looking to combine drawing and painting techniques.

Faber-Castell Classic Colour Pencils (Tin of 24)

Why It Stands Out These Faber-Castell pencils are a dependable choice for a wide range of applications. They feature vivid, brilliant colours and a hexagonal barrel for a comfortable grip during long drawing sessions. A key feature is the special secural bonding process (SV), which glues the lead along the entire length of the pencil, making it highly break-resistant. The wood is also sourced from certified sustainable forestry, making it a considered choice.

Pros

• Vivid colours provide excellent coverage.
• SV bonding process for high break-resistance.
• Hexagonal shape for comfortable, non-slip grip.
• Made from wood from certified sustainable forestry.

Who is it for? Art students, hobbyists and anyone in need of a reliable and durable drawing pencils set for general colouring, sketching and illustration.

Faber-Castell Classic Colour Watercolour Pencils (Wallet of 24)

Why It Stands Out This set offers exceptional versatility for artists who want to bridge the gap between drawing and painting. The leads are fully water-soluble, allowing you to draw as normal and then transform your work into a watercolour piece with a wet brush (one is included). This technique is perfect for creating unique colour gradients and soft washes. Like their classic counterparts, these pencils feature break-resistant SV bonding and are made from wood from sustainable sources.

Pros

• Dual-functionality: use dry for drawing or wet for watercolour effects.
• Fully water-soluble lead for smooth transitions and gradients.
• Includes a paintbrush to get started immediately.
• Pigment washes out of most fabrics.

Who is it for? Creatives of all levels who want the flexibility of two mediums in one tool. They are particularly well-suited for illustrators, designers and hobbyists exploring mixed-media art.

Looking for More Options?

The world of artist pencils is vast, and the right choice often comes down to personal preference and the specific demands of your project. If you're still exploring or have a specific need not covered here, we invite you to browse our complete collection of art pencils to find the perfect set for your toolkit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Artist Pencils

1. What is the difference between artist grade and student grade pencils? Artist grade pencils, often referred to as professional colouring pencils, typically contain a higher concentration of high-quality pigments, resulting in richer colours and better lightfastness. They also tend to have a wider range of colours and core types. Student grade pencils are more affordable and are designed for practice and general use, with a good balance of performance and cost.

2. How do you use watercolour pencils? There are several techniques. You can draw on dry paper and then go over it with a wet brush to dissolve and spread the pigment. Alternatively, you can wet the paper first and draw on the damp surface for bolder, softer lines. You can even dip the pencil tip directly into water for a very intense colour application.

3. Can you mix different types of artist pencils in one artwork? Yes, many artists mix different types of pencils to achieve unique effects. For example, you could use harder, oil-based pencils for a detailed under-drawing and then layer softer, wax-based pencils on top for rich colour. You can also combine dry media like coloured pencils with wet media like watercolour pencils for dynamic mixed-media pieces.